Deep sea fishing

photos by DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES It’s nearly picture time at the docks of Deep Sea Headquarters, a daily ritual in Port Aransas. We estimated the male scalloped hammerhead weighed about 200 pounds and was about 8 feet long.

PHOTOS BY DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES After the beeliners were iced and the hammerhead was on deck, Capt. Marvin Horner took us to a spot to catch Atlantic sharpnose sharks.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES We estimated this male scalloped hammerhead weighed about 200 pounds and measured about 8 feet long.

Atlantic sharpnose sharks are abundant and easy to catch off the Texas coast. They are a staple target of party boats.

Kingfish deckhand Jeremy Long lends a hand to Justin Vodrey toward the end of a 30-minute fight with a hammerhead.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES We caught a couple of red snapper, which we released. The federal red snapper season begins June 1.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES DD LeMaster of Las Vegas seemed to have a knack for catching vermilion snapper. He caught more than anyone else on the boat.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES These giant Avet reels make it a bit less difficult to handle big fish, but it still takes plenty of muscle.

It’s no easy task hoisting a 200-pound shark aboard a boat this size. It took teamwork.